Ryann and the others agreed, and after chatting and lounging for another ten minutes, they all went to the changing rooms, washed their faces, dressed, and left for the salon. It was a short walk, but the day was so brisk and the wind so biting, all five of them were doing a funny near-jog the last block to get out of the cold. Ryann dreaded the idea that she’d be standing outside in this chill in a sleeveless dress later this afternoon.

The salon was surprisingly busy for a Tuesday morning, but, given the way this town hyped Valentine’s Day, she realized she shouldn’t be surprised. They were immediately handed mugs of cocoa and directed to wait on a pair of couches in a cozy nook by a gas fireplace. It had started flurrying outside, and everything was pretty, charming. They might have been at a ski lodge.

She and Jos were sharing a stylist, as were Kathy and Janet, while Stuart had his own. The three stylists appeared, calling back the first three.

“Ooh, stay back with me,” Janet said, grabbing Ryann’s hand. “I wanted to talk to you at least once today before the hoopla starts.”

“Okay.”

Janet scooted closer on the seat next to hers, covering her hands with her own. “I’m so glad we’ve gotten to know each other.”

“Me, too.”

“No—really. I mean it. Stuart’s been like this enigma since we met him. He seemed so alone in the world, so independent. Our family is so big, and so…in-your-face, I guess, and we all have a million cousins and friends around all the time. You’re never alone in our family, even when you want to be. And we love Stuart so much. It was hard to think of him by himself like that all the time.”

Her face heated with shame, and she stared down at their hands. “Yes. I suppose he was pretty alone.”

“Oh, gosh, Ryann—it’s not like that was your fault. You live so far away, and he’s not that close to his folks, either. No. I just meant that it’s so nice to meet some of his people, you know? And you’re so great, and you get along with everyone so well, even Jos, and she doesn’t like anyone. It’s nice to meet you and spend time with you is all.”

“Thanks. I feel the same about all of you, too. And I’m so glad he has you. He was so lonely when he first moved out here. I thought for sure—” Her mouth snapped closed over what she’d almost said.

Janet, however, smiled. “You thought for sure he’d move back to New York. Right?”

She nodded.

Janet laughed. “That’s what we all thought. That’s what Stuart kept saying when he and my brother were first dating. You know they broke up for a while, right?”